MEET BERLIN General Terms and Conditions for visitors of the web portal 

§ 1 Preamble

1.1 MEET BERLIN is a non-commercial initiative to encourage use of the city of Berlin as an event destination.  A number of team members are currently working for a fraction of their normal hourly wages.  
 
Our aim is to be able to balance expenditures by the end of 2010.   Should surpluses be obtained, all team participants will receive an honorary payment to compensate for what they have forgone in the start up phase.  No team member plans to make a profit.
 
As soon as the MEET BERLIN Project grows to the large enough that the foundation of an independent MEET BERLIN GmbH (limited liability company) is economically feasible, the statutes will be established as a low-profit-enterprise, meaning that a considerable portion of the earnings of MEET BERLIN GmbH will be used for fighting poverty, ghettos and unemployment in Berlin.
 
We are thankful for every kind of support, whether it is as participant, firm partner, deliverer or team member.  Everyone can make a simple contribution to the success of this project by showing his enthusiasm for the project to others.  

1.2 MEET BERLIN runs the web portal, the Top-Level-Domain www.meet-berlin.net as well as a number of sub-domains on which free information is made available to the public by firms working in the Berlin event-marketing branch.

This is a platform for event locations, catering firms, hotels, service providers of mobile technical equipment, furniture and other event requirements as well as decorators, artists, performers, delivery and other services of the event branch (the so called participants).

1.3 The explicit aim of all participants who introduce themselves on the pages of MEET BERLIN, is to advertise together for Berlin as an event metropolis.  One can only become a participant after signing a written contract.

1.4 In addition to the MEET BERLIN Web portal, other marketing strategies are planned (Info-CD, DVD, visiting tours, road shows, group stands at trade fairs, etc.). We will be happy to send you information per post.

1.5 A compilation of websites on which the services of MEET BERLIN are listed can be found under “MB-Websites“. 

§ 2 Rights and Responsibilities of Users of MB Websites

2.1 It is not technically possible for MEET BERLIN to determine if an entry on the MB-Websites really comes from the person who claims to bet he registered participant.  MEET BERLIN gives no guarantee for the real identity of a user.  Each user must verify the identity of another user himself.  

2.2 MEET BERLIN reserves the right to change the services offered on the website or to extend them or to restrict services unless it is not feasible for the participants.        

2.3 The following are prohibited for all users:

a) Use of scripts, software or mechanisms in connection with the use of the MB-Websites. The user can use the software made available within the framework of the MB-Website’s offered services.  

b) Blocking, overwriting, modifying, copying in as far as this is not required for the approved use of the service of MB-Websites is not forbidden. For example, copying of “Robot” or “Crawler” from search machine technologies is not needed and is therefore explicitly prohibited.  

c) Every action which has the potential of impairing the function of the infrastructure of the MB-Website, i.e. overloading, is not allowed. 

§ 3 Liability

3.1 The user recognizes that a 100% access to the MB-Website is technically not possible.  In particular, maintenance, safety or capacity problems as well as things that are beyond the control of MEET BERLIN (such as electrical and other disturbances, interruption of the telecommunication paths of internet, etc.) can lead to disturbances or the interruption of the services on the MB-Websites.

Temporary inaccessibility of the service because of necessary system maintenance must be accepted by all users with no restrictions.

3.2 MEET BERLIN accepts no liability or guarantee for the actuality, correctness or completion or quality of the participant information on this website. The participants alone are responsible for their presentations which are logged in.  Participants are responsible to clarify all questions regarding trade names, advertising slogans and copyrighted material before posting on the website. 

Participants must release MEET BERLIN from claims from third parties because of copyrights violations.  Processes against MEET BERLIN based on damages caused by use of the available information and services such as the use of incorrect or incomplete information are inadmissible unless it can be proved that MEET BERLIN is guilty of premeditated or negligent damages.            

3.3 MEET BERLIN is not responsible for the content of third party websites which are connected by link or reference to MB-Websites and exclusively disclaims itself from all contents that may be punishable or liable or that do not conform to expected standards of taste.

3.4 The contents and contact information published on the MB-Websites may not be used for commercial purposes.  MEET BERLIN is not responsible for any violations of this paragraph.

3.5 Participants and visitors of the MB-Websites release MEET BERLIN from all liability and responsibility for contracts which the participants make with visitors to the MB-Websites.  In so far as MEET BERLIN does not explicitly make any written commitments, contracts are exclusively the responsibility of the two parties involved.

§ 4 Copyrights

4.1 The content of all MB-Websites (including the user conditions) is copyrighted.

4.2 Storage and copying of the texts (completely or partially), photographs or graphics is not allowed.

This is only allowed in so far as it is necessary for normal usage or is explicitly approved in writing by MEET BERLIN. 

Every usage, copying, distribution and/or public use, in particular unapproved use in internet / internet offers goes beyond normal use and becomes a copyright violation.

4.3 MEET BERLIN is happy about links with http://www.meet-berlin.net.  However we request a short email to support@meet-berlin.net before the link is set up.  Trademarks, product names, firm names and logos are the sole property of the owner.  

§ 5 Final regulations

5.1 In so far as parts or individual formulations of these user conditions are not, or no longer or not completely in accorded with valid laws, the remaining portions of the user conditions remain valid and untouched in their content and validity. 

5.2 The invalid rules will be replaced by the legal regulation, whose content comes closest to it.  The laws are those of the Republic of Germany.  The responsible law court is Berlin. 

5.3 MEET BERLIN reserves the right to change or extend these general user conditions.